When filing a car accident claim and reviewing a potential settlement, many people want to know the average car accident settlement in Louisiana. While average amounts can be useful, it is more important to understand the damages that make up a settlement. It’s also necessary to review the many factors that affect how much of those damages you can recover.
Average Car Accident Costs in the U.S. and Louisiana
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the average cost for an injury as a motor vehicle occupant in 2023 was:
- $98,153 per person, including nearly $5,600 for medical costs, for injuries that led to emergency department (ED) visits
- $266,728 per person, including nearly $77,400 for medical treatment, when the injury led to hospitalization
The Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) reports on vehicle collisions in Louisiana, and it showed that fatal injuries cost the state $1,976,172 overall in 2024. CARTS also reported the following total costs:
- $176,323 for all suspected serious injuries in the state
- $450,750 for suspected minor injuries
- $27,871 for possible injuries
- $9,733 for property damage
- $7,615 for no apparent injuries
While these costs and averages can give you an idea of what your settlement could be, they cannot tell you the specific value that you should recover. This is because every car accident and its resulting damages are unique, so a settlement must be unique to match.
What Damages Are Included in a Settlement?
Car accident claims are filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. When you have a successful claim against the company, it could recover all damages that you sustained because of the accident. These might include:
- Medical expenses: It’s important to assess the many ways your injury could continue to affect your life and get coverage for it, such as if you need mobility aids, at-home care, modifications to your home, or other long-term medical care. Clear medical documentation and records, as well as testimony by medical providers, can show these damages.
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential: Your injuries can cause you to take time off work for recovery and treatment. More severe injuries can permanently affect the income you earn. These losses need to be considered. Individuals with higher income and those with injuries that permanently prevent them from working are likely to recover more damages.
- Property damages: A car accident can damage or total your vehicle, along with other personal property. This can be included in your compensation package.
- Non-economic damages: These are intangible losses, like physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma and anguish, reduced quality of life, and loss of consortium. It can be harder to prove these losses, but they are affected by the severity of your injuries and the effect they have on your life.
There may even be exemplary damages in some unique car accident cases, which are damages that punish the at-fault party for severe negligence, like driving impaired and without care for the rights and safety of other people on the road.
What Other Factors Affect Settlement Values?
While the value of your damages represents the most you can recover in a settlement, you can’t always obtain the full amount. Many factors influence how much or little of your damages you can recover, including:
- Fault: Under Louisiana car accident laws for comparative fault, your damages can be reduced if you were partially at fault. Your compensation can be lowered by the same percentage you are found at fault. As of January 2026, you can be barred from compensation if you carry too much fault.
- Reporting the accident: If you do not report the accident, you likely cannot file a claim. Additionally, failing to report an accident where there is an injury or a certain level of property damage is illegal.
- Insurance limits: If your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage limits, this can prevent you from fully financially recovering from the crash.
- Legal representation: If you try to settle a claim with an insurance company without a car accident attorney, you are unlikely to recover as high of a settlement as you are owed. With an attorney, you are likely to obtain significantly more compensation with less stress.
FAQs
What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Louisiana?
The average car accident settlement in Louisiana varies, as the severity of the accident and your injuries will severely shift the value of your settlement. The cost of your damages could be much higher or lower than the average. Other factors also influence whether you can recover the full cost of your damages.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for Anxiety After a Car Accident?
The compensation you can get for anxiety after a car accident will depend on factors like the supportive evidence and the other damages you suffered. Anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder are generally considered intangible consequences of an accident, as are noneconomic damages. Non-economic damages are usually higher when economic damages are higher.
A personal injury attorney can get medical opinions that support the effect your anxiety has on your life. Their testimony can show how it came from the accident.
What Is a Good Settlement for a Car Accident?
A good settlement for a car accident is one that covers the total of your damages. Some crucial damages to consider are the medical bills you owe, along with the ones you will need to pay in the future for rehabilitation. Also consider the income you lost and may lose for future appointments or treatment. If your work was permanently affected by your injuries, this cost should also be considered.
How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in Louisiana?
Pain and suffering damages in Louisiana are calculated in many ways. They may be based on:
- Your economic damages
- Similar case results
- The number of days your injury affects your life
When you hire a car accident lawyer, they can determine a fair amount for your pain and suffering damages, as well as other non-economic damages.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
At Gauthier Amedee, we have over 40 years of legal experience, and we have obtained many seven-figure results for clients. Reach out to our team today.
